Hsinchu City's local council race is unusually crowded this year, setting up a shake-up of the current council when voters go to the polls in late November.

• 56 people registered to compete for 35 council seats across the city.
• The East District is the fiercest fight: 19 candidates for 12 seats, in a district of over 220,000 people.
• Three sitting members in that district are not running again, opening seats for newcomers, returning candidates, and children of established politicians.
• The North District is also tight, with 13 running for 9 seats, and both the KMT and DPP fielding extra candidates there.
• A newly created mountain indigenous seat drew five candidates for one spot, and the lowland indigenous race pits KMT members against each other.

Outlook: Expect heavy campaigning in the East and North districts through the November 28 vote, with the East District — long seen as the key to winning Hsinchu — deciding the balance of the new council.